Another young man takes his own life. Or did he?

 On September 2, 2001 at 2:26 A.M., Shawn McMillan was driven to the Helen Ellis Hospital in Tarpon Springs, FL by Rita Nordmark and her brother-in-law, Dan Nordmark, an off duty corrections officer. A bullet from the officer’s gun had ripped through Shawn’s brain. Officer Nordmark alleged the wound was self inflicted. The facts indicate otherwise. Shawn was dead at the age of 26.

According to Shawn’s mother, Michaela Mahoney, Shawn was as far from suicidal that day as anyone could be. He had worked with her at her law office most of the day and was in good spirits. After they left the office, they went to a clothing store. Shawn was all jokes and laughter while he tried on suits, ties and shirts for his new job with American Express.

Michaela dropped him off at the Ale House Restaurant at 5:30 P.M. to meet some acquaintances. They proceeded from there to the British Pub to play pool. That’s where they ran into Nordmark, another casual acquaintance, who offered to give Shawn a ride home. First, however, Nordmark and his best friend, Bernie Dillman, wanted to go to the Palms Bar and Grill for Karaoke. Shawn accompanied them there and then back to the Pub, still looking for a ride home.

Michaela believes the police reports are riddled with lies and omissions that completely conceal the events of the fateful evening. Nordmark and Dillman had very good reason to conceal the truth. While at the Palms, the two allegedly inebriated men had become furious at Kimberley, the Karaoke lady. The terrified woman gave a sworn statement that she feared for her life and Shawn’s because he tried to protect her from the belligerent men, who followed her into the parking lot, yelling obscenities while she loaded her equipment. She and other witnesses described Nordmark and Dillman as violently angry and “evil.”

Twenty minutes after the confrontation with Kimberley, the trio was back at the British Pub, where they had gone after being evicted from the Palms. Dan Nordmark brought out his firearm and drunkenly waved it about in front of witnesses. He reportedly jammed the slide several times in his efforts to load and cock it. He then handed the gun to Dillman, who fired it at an adjacent gas station and occupied mobile home park. The terrified bar patrons fled the premises in fear of being injured or killed.

Michaela said the visit to the British Pub—which is owned by the Nordmark family—the events that took place there and the identities of the witnesses to those events were withheld from police reports. The Nordmarks asserted that they had been at a different bar that night. Later, when caught in that lie, they explained that they were confused about the name of the bar due to all the excitement at the hospital.

Dan and Rita Nordmark originally stated that Shawn was seated in the center of the back seat and was leaning forward between them, giving Rita directions to his home, when he was shot in the head.

While Shawn lay dying in the emergency room at the hospital, a sergeant with the Tarpon Springs Police Department arrived. He began his official police report with these words: “At 2:39 hours on September 2, 2001, I was called at my residence in reference to responding to a shooting at Helen Ellis ER with special circumstances.”

Michaela believes the term “special circumstances” was the code used to tip off responding officers that a fellow member of law enforcement was involved.

She is certain that when the police realized the suspect was a cop, “special circumstances” took precedence over conducting a thorough and professional investigation. In her opinion, the officers ignored routine police procedures; failed to conduct gun residue tests; failed to administer alcohol or drug tests on Officer Nordmark—who was reportedly so intoxicated he could barely stand up—failed to question credible witnesses; and failed to pursue a single lead or to impound the car.

Instead, within two hours of the shooting, they obtained peroxide from the hospital ER and instructed Rita Nordmark to begin cleaning the blood out of the vehicle. Although three police officers and the emergency room nurse searched the car for the missing weapon, no one could find it. It later mysteriously materialized on the back floorboards. According to Michaela, the police failed to lift fingerprints and obliterated them instead.

Several witnesses later testified that the night of the shooting Shawn was bleeding profusely and was tightly wedged in the back seat of the small Honda Civic. When the nurses could not get Shawn out of the car, the allegedly intoxicated Dan Nordmark staggered to the car, reached his arms up under Shawn’s arms and head while wrapping his arms around Shawn’s chest and dragged him from the car. Shawn’s head, oozing blood, was in contact with Dan Nordmark’s chest and shoulder. This occurred prior to the police arriving on the scene.

Michaela feels that this is significant because the sergeant maintained that there was not one speck of blood on the shirt that was worn by Dan Nordmark, and that to him it was the most conclusive piece of evidence in the investigation proving that Dan Nordmark did not shoot Shawn.

Later, two different witnesses testified under oath in front of the State Attorney that within approximately 24 hours of the shooting, Nordmark told them that the police took his shirt that night at the hospital because it was covered in Shawn’s blood. The State Attorney’s office ignored these incriminating statements.

The sergeant stated that he collected and took into evidence Nordmark’s shirt, as well as the clothing from the decedent. However, Nordmark’s shirt was not listed or photographed in evidence.

Shortly after the incident various law enforcement personnel gave conflicting statements regarding the handling of Nordmark’s shirt. The Forensics Specialist for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office stated that she personally performed blood analysis on the shirt with negative results. The Sheriff’s Office and their attorney determined that Luminal and Phenolphthalien tests were not performed. And the Forensics supervisor said that the required reports that accompany the tests were not completed, indicating they had not been performed. Another officer testified that the only test conducted was a visual exam.

The McMillan family believes that Nordmark’s shirt was treated with peroxide or some other caustic agent to remove all traces of the blood stains or that the shirt was simply substituted for another shirt to conceal the presence of Shawn’s blood.

Dan Nordmark asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 600 times during a deposition regarding Shawn’s death. A video of Nordmark’s testimony can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLkmTXvf8Ok.

Michaela said that more than fifty of Shawn’s friends and family members wrote to the State Attorney insisting that Shawn never would have killed himself. One of the attorneys Shawn worked for wrote about spending time with Shawn just twelve hours before he was shot. He stated that Shawn was upbeat and happy and there was absolutely no indication of any depression or imminent suicide. All of those people were ignored by the State Attorney’s Office. None were interviewed or even acknowledged.

Below is the statement from the karaoke person at the Palms.

STATE ATTORNEY INVESTIGATION

Feb. 14, 2002

Statement from Kimberly, Karaoke Lady

At the end of the evening when I had to stop legally, he called me every name in the book. The one with the long curly hair (Bernie Dillman) and his friend (Dan Nordmark), they started calling me names …. They called me “You fucking cunt. You fucking whore. We’ll beat your ass.”

Q: And Shawn?

Shawn was playing pool. Shawn was not involved ….

(Later, when I was loading my equipment) They came up and started screaming at me again … They were surrounding my car, yelling at me. And Shawn came out and asked them, “Why are you yelling at her? She didn’t do anything.” The way they looked at him and their demeanor that night. They’re so mean. Every time they are there something happens.

Q: Being mean and looking at somebody is one thing. But it’s a pretty damn big leap then to say they killed somebody too.

Yes, but somebody is dead. The way they looked at him was just, was just – I wish I could describe it. It was pure evil. I was scared. I was scared for myself … I definitely thought they were going to do something to him (Shawn). That was the feeling I was left with ….

Q: What was Shawn’s demeanor that evening in the bar? You said he was playing pool.

He was very sweet. Very laid back.


* * *

In spite of what seems to be rather compelling evidence to the contrary, Shawn’s death officially remains a suicide.

UPDATE


After a lengthy battle, Michaela got the manner of death on Shawn’s death certificate changed from suicide to undetermined. However, in the box for how the injury occurred, the medical examiner typed in “shot self,” negating the change.   

How To Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships

With so many high-profile cases of missing women in the news, unsolved, suspicious deaths and cold cases where victims seeking a divorce have vanished without a trace or found murdered, I am urging everyone to speak out by spreading the word that a prescription for safety is now available. The video below is one key ingredient to a victim's safety.

I often hear women involved in domestic violence say, “I cannot leave or I'm unable to even pack a bag and sneak it to the car.” Another common problem is when a woman says, “He is constantly watching me, stalking me or he has a tracker on my computer, cell phone or vehicle.”

For most victims the fear of getting beat up or even killed by their significant other if they are caught trying to leave can be paralyzing. Most victims of domestic violence and or stalking do not realize that the person in the relationship is committing a crime. Domestic violence and stalking is against the law.

But for those fearful or unable to seek service from a domestic violence shelter provider, there is a book available that will take a victim from living in fear to a plan, with a roadmap to safety.

The abuser has a plan to control, manipulate and harm. A victim must have a plan that involves being ten steps ahead of their husband or boyfriend when they cannot call police or seek services outside the home because it could be too dangerous for the victim and her children.

Remember, the most important step a victim must do is prepare before they announce the relationship is ending. If something does happen, if you or a loved one suddenly goes missing like Stacy Peterson, Vensus Stewart, Rachel Anderson, Susan Powell, Lisa Stebic, or are found murdered like Monica Beresford-Redmond, Franki Jacobson, Renee Pagel and others, where the person responsible has gotten away with murder,  the victim's voice and record of the abuse will be captured and recorded (see below). Do it for your community, friends, family and loved ones.

Do it for the children.

If you are a victim do it for you!




Been there, done that…” Susan Murphy- Milano has turned a tired phrase into demonstrable realism through the gift of her newly published book, "TIME'S UP: A GUIDE ON HOW TO LEAVE AND SURVIVE ABUSIVE AND STALKING RELATIONSHIPS

Attorney Anne Bremner Appearing On Crime Wire Investigates

Crime Wire Investigates welcomes the opportunity to host Anne Bremner in her first appearance on the show.  Ms. Bremner is an nationally noted attorney based in the Seattle area and a legal analyst who is invited by all the popular news shows to add her expertise to high profile cases. She is  a regular contributor to the popular online true crime blog, In Cold Blog.

Ms. Bremner is also a visible and active presence in her community, often donating her time and resources speaking or organizing events.

Anne Bremner will join Vito Colucci, Susan Murphy-Milano and Dennis Griffin as they discuss the current case of missing 7 year old, Kyron Horman, as well as the look into suspect  Steven Nodine of Alabama and the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Angel Downs, and a cold case investigation into the death of musician, Daniel Zank.

Joining in the discussion will be Kevin Lee, who has written excellent reports on the Steven Nodine investigation, Expert Statement Analyst, Peter Hyatt, and mother and sister of Daniel Zank, Laura Zank and Michelle Zank-Podrovitz.

Make plans to join in this fantastic assembly of crime fighters, writers, and experts at 9pm Eastern, 8pm Central on BlogTalk Radio!

DIRECT LINK TO SHOW AND LIVE CHAT: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/crimewire/2010/06/23/crime-wire

FEEL FREE TO CALL IN WITH QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:
(646) 478-0982

“When there is nowhere else for families to find answers and seek justice, the Crime Wire team is there.”

www.imaginepublicity.com

Crime Wire Investigates Live Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST and 8:00 PM Central

Denny Griffin, Susan Murphy-Milano and Vito Colucci, Jr.

An elite team of veteran investigation experts, along with noted crime consultants, television legal analysts, and attorneys often featured on the popular news programs, join together for families of violent crime to find answers and seek justice. The Crime Wire team, Vito Colucci Jr., Private Eye and author, Denny Griffin, retired Investigator and Author, and Susan Murphy Milano, Violence Expert and Author are there-- On top of the crime -- at the top of their game.

Our guests for a power packed hour will be:

Tricia Griffith, owner Websleuths the Internet site that brings crime cases in the news and public eye long after the media has forgotten they need to be solved!

Billy Cutolo, Jr., This case involves one of those rather rare instances in which murder charges were brought and convictions attained when the victim’s remains had not been found. It is also somewhat unique in that the victim was a powerful organized crime figure. William “Wild Bill” Cutolo was the underboss of New York City’s Colombo crime family. His disappearance and presumed murder in 1999 caused his son to turn from a life of crime to become a cooperating government witness, whose work with law enforcement helped to bring about the arrests and convictions of his father’s killers in 2007.


Famed Defense Attorney Mickey Sherman will be on the hot seat tonight discussing what else defending the thugs, rapists and cold blooded killers.

Janice Smolinski will discuss The Help Find the Missing Act (Billy’s Law) for families because it is one of the most important national pieces of legislation that will benefit the families of missing persons. With a grass roots effort started by the mother of missing Billy Smolinski, Janice Smolinski lives the nightmare shared with thousands across the country and millions worldwide. She has worked non-stop through the process of our government to bring this change for all.

 President of Imagine Publicity “Delilah,”  creator of the crime suvivors and victim's rights blog "Time'sUp", stands, supports and spread important awareness on many issues, including missing persons, domestic violence, mothers without custody, human trafficking, self-defense, and victim’s rights.

Al Dressler Technology Expert and Crime Wire consultant will also weigh in on the rapid pace of technology in criminal cases.

Time: 9:00 PM EST 8:00 PM CST 6:00 PM PST


The number to call in with questions or comments is 1-646-478-0982

We profile a variety of cases each week, including cold cases, suspicious deaths, and current solved and unsolved murders.

If you are interested in having your case brought to the attention of the Crime Wire Team you can email us with cases, suggestions and comments at our email: thecrimewire@gmail.com

Link to Listen to the show Live http://www.blogtalkradio.com/crimewire

Our goal is to bring attention to those cases in which justice may not have been served and the families of the victims don’t have the resources to pursue the investigations on their own. Together we can make a difference.

Website: http://www.crimewiresite.com/

The Death of Nichole LaDue January – Questions Remain

 
Nichole LaDue January was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on the balcony of her third floor condo in Pass Christian, Mississippi, shortly before 10 a.m. on July 29, 2002. Rigor and lividity indicated that the 30-year-old had been dead for several hours. Her death was ruled a suicide. 


Nikki had been married for less than two years to Phil January, and both worked at the Grand Casino in Gulfport, LA. According to Nikki’s friends, Phil was a jealous and controlling husband. Her co-workers told the LaDue family that their formerly fun-loving daughter had become a loner, afraid to socialize on breaks because Phil had spies watching her. However, she did have something wonderful in her life – a five-year-old son, Zachary, from a previous marriage. She loved Zack with all her heart.


At the time of her death, Nikki was at a point of transition. Phil had suddenly decided they should relocate to Bossier City, LA, where he had found a job with Boomtown Casino’s security department working under his former boss at the Grand. Nikki had stayed behind to orchestrate the move. She told Phil that on July 29 he should drive to Pass Christian, rent a U-Haul and move the family’s belongings to Bossier City. She’d have everything ready to go. Nikki and Zack would then drive to Fort Lauderdale in Nikki’s car to spend a week with the LaDues. They would then join Phil in Louisiana.


However, Nikki had a different plan known to only a few people. She believed her marriage to Phil was over and she had no intention of joining him in Louisiana. She and Zack were going to remain with her family in Florida and start a new life there. 


According to friends who knew of Nikki’s plans, she seemed both exhilarated and nervous. She was excited about going to live with her parents, but she also seemed scared. She and Zack slept at a friend’s place because she was afraid to spend nights alone in the condo. She also asked a male friend to show her how to use a pistol, because she wanted to be able to protect herself. That seemed to be an odd request since Nikki was known to be terrified of guns. 


On July 28, the day before Phil was to arrive with the U-Haul, Nikki apparently decided to treat herself to a preview of her new life as a single woman. She deposited Zack with a sitter and went on a date. She and her new friend, Eric, went to a club and then to his apartment, where he introduced her to some of his friends. From there they went to a sports bar.


Meanwhile, Phil’s calls were piling up on Nikki’s voice mail. He even placed a frantic call to one of Nikki’s friends at work to find out where Nikki was.


At about 8 pm, Nikki looked at her watch and exclaimed that she had to make a call immediately. She refused to use Eric’s cell and called from a pay phone. When she returned to the table she was visibly shaken and stated she had to leave right away. That was the last time Eric saw her alive, though they did speak one final time at 12:30 am, when she called his cell phone to swear him to secrecy about their day together.
Nikki collected Zack and returned to the condo. The calls from Phil continued, eighteen in all. Phil subsequently identified those calls, made between 11 pm and 2:30 am, as a lover’s spat. He told police that he said some hurtful things to Nikki that might have caused her to search the condo for his gun so she could take her own life. Months later, the detective in charge of the case told Nikki’s family that this statement by Phil was the basis for his conclusion of suicide.


According to Nikki’s family, Phil also told police that he was a 20- year veteran of the police force in Wichita Falls, Texas. They contend that was a total lie and that Phil was never employed by any police department in Texas.


When one of Nikki’s friends arrived at the condo at around 9:30 am on the 29th to help load the U-Haul, she was let in by Zack. He said his mother was sleeping in the bedroom. The friend said she searched the condo twice for Nikki, but never looked out on the balcony. Minutes later Phil arrived and discovered Nikki’s body.
Nikki’s family has questions about the police investigation and the ruling that Nikki committed suicide. They include:


Phil never provided proof of his whereabouts the night of July 28, or explained why he blocked the phone records from showing where he was calling Nikki from. They believe he might have been en route to Mississippi, but it is possible that he was already there and Nikki didn’t know it; 


Nikki was found in a chair with her right knee held by the table in front of her and her left leg down. Phil, the person who found her, has stated in writing, “The gun was sitting beside her on a small padded wicker stool with rod-iron railing.” However, the police photo shows the pistol on the chair, under Nikki’s left thigh. They wonder how Nikki was able to shoot herself in the temple and then place the pistol under her thigh;


On the table next to Nikki’s body was a pack of her Marlboro Medium 100’s. But they were to her left, not to the right where a right-handed person would normally place them. On the far side of the table was a pack of Marlboro Red 100’s with a lighter beside them. This second pack could indicate the presence of another person;


There was also a portable phone, face down on the table, covered with blood. A pathologist was hired to do a private autopsy and told the LaDue family that Nikki died instantly. If so, who bloodied the telephone? The police failed to collect the phone or lighter as evidence;


The bullet that entered Nikki’s right temple exited through a tiny hole above her left ear. Allegedly it then hit the wall 5 feet 6 inches from the floor and 18 inches to Nikki’s left, ricocheted into the aluminum doorframe on the same wall, and then bounced back to land in a chair on the next balcony. Police took no scene photos to document those facts. It seems strange that the exit wound was so small that three different funeral directors were unable to locate it, yet the bullet continued to travel at such a speed as to hit a wall, travel to the door frame, and have enough momentum left to fly back over Nikki’s head and land on a balcony six feet away. There is no police diagram of the path of the bullet, just a verbal description; and:


Would Nikki take her own life while the 5-year-old son whom she adored was in the same apartment? 


Would she leave him all alone knowing he could possibly discover her body? The family doesn’t believe she would have.


For the LaDues, the questions are many, but the answers are few.

Denny Griffin Interview: Two Men and the Mob

Denny Griffin will be participating in a panel discussion on the Simon Barrett Show on Saturday at 11am pacific, 2pm eastern where they will be launching the latest broadcast in the series, Surviving The Mob.

Guests are going to be ex Gambino crime family associate Andrew DiDonato, and ex Colombo crime member Billy Cutolo Jr. Billy was in the the unique position of being the son of the number 2 guy in the Colombo family.

Also joining the panel will be crime writer and author Denny Griffin and our resident expert on Organized Crime in Central and Southern America, D. Alan Johnson.

This exciting, informative 90 minute show will be aired live on BlogTalk Radio on Saturday, June 12, at 2pm Eastern, 1pm Central time.

To participate in the live chat and hear the show CLICK HERE

To call in live with questions and comments:

(646) 378-1120

Andrew DiDonato's escape from his life of crime in the Gambino family is now out on DVD produced by 2Reel Productions.  He will be co-writing his story with True Crime author, Dennis Griffin.



Dennis Griffin, Vito Colucci and Susan Murphy-Milano are members of Crime Wire, a new set of eyes which investigates crimes for families who have not received the justice they deserve.  Listen to their show on BlogTalk Radio every Tuesday evening at 9pm Eastern, and follow their blog,  Crime Wire.

www.imaginepublicity.com

The Death of Daniel Zank; Suicide or Murder?

On October 24, 2006 at 12:30pm, Daniel Zank’s body was found on the kitchen floor of his Coon Rapids, Minn. residence with multiple stab wounds.  He was 36 years old. Dan was the lead singer for the ‘80s cover band Jet City. He was known to his friends and fans as Danny Z. People were attracted to him and admired his singing voice.

At 9:40 am on that day Dan’s mother, Laura Zank, received a call from him. When she picked it up after two rings, no one was there. She called him back to ask why he didn’t finish the call and got his voice mail. The police estimated that between the time of that call and around 10:30 am Dan was stabbed to death.

His body was discovered by the homeowner, Michelle Gidding, Dan’s 38-year-old girlfriend, when she returned home and found a door had been forced open. Afraid, she left the home and called friends to come over and enter the house with her. Upon the friends’ arrival they entered the home and found Dan dead.

He had been stabbed 14 times, including twice in the buttocks, and two of the wounds would have been fatal. The police report stated Dan had defensive wounds on his arms and hands, there was no blood spray on his body from the knife coming out 14 times, plus they believed his body had been moved. However, the medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. And the circumstances stated in the police report were not mentioned in the ME’s paperwork.

Laura Zank hired a forensic pathologist to review the investigation of her son’s death. In his opinion there were too many questionable things about Dan’s case to support the suicide ruling. Laura’s lawyer took the pathologist’s findings to the medical examiner. She refused to look at the report and the police won’t re-open an investigation unless the ME changes her suicide ruling.

The Zanks aren’t the only family to encounter coroners or medical examiners that refuse to explain their decisions or amend them when credible evidence exists to support changing a previous ruling. Unfortunately, there are more families in their situation than you might think. Perhaps someday victims’ families won’t have to feel they have been victimized twice: First by the loss of their loved one. And again by the very system that is supposed to bring them justice.

Wife of Baseball Star Hires Vito Colucci

Is a New York Mets player really a Dodger?

Bobby Bonilla, former NY Mets player, and his wife are in a heated divorce settlement with millions of dollars on the line.   The ex-wife, Millie, is holding out that Bobby has hidden several million dollars of his assets so that he doesn't have to comply with the court order of their divorce judgement.  Seems like he is dodging the orders of the court by not turning in numerous documents which the court demands.

Millie Bonilla has hired famed private investigator, Vito Colucci, to help locate Bobby's alleged hidden assets that he denies owning.

The New York Post is reporting that in 2011 Bobby Bonilla will be collecting deferred compensation from the Mets, and Millie is entitled to 50% according to the divorce judgement.  The Bonillas also own several properties which were awarded to Millie in the decree.

Will Millie Bonilla recieve her awarded share?  Vito Colucci and his staff will be working diligently to find the truth, the truth about what Bobby Bonilla has and where he has it hidden!  This is a story to watch!

Vito Colucci is a regular commentator on various news programs including: Fox News MSNBC, Catherine Crier/Court TV, Star Jones, Glenn Beck, Nancy Grace, Larry King, CNN Headline News, and The Bill O’Reilly Show, as well as being a featured speaker at the first World Investigator’s Conference in LasVegas in 2005.

Colucci Investigations has a staff of six investigators with various criminal justice backgrounds. Vito is also co-owner of The Spy’s the Limit Inc.

Vito is a part of several new projects including Crime Wire along with former law enforcement officer and author, Denny Griffin, and family violence expert, strategist and author, Susan Murphy Milano.

Vito Colucci is also busy working on a new forensic crime-solving series, "Bloodwork," which will air on cable TV, either on the A&E Network or another A&E channel, Crime & Investigation Network, in the fall.

www.imaginepublicity.com

The Crime Wire Teams Investigates-Live Tuesday June 8, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST and 8:00 PM CST

An elite team of veteran investigation experts, along with noted crime consultants, television legal analysts, and attorneys often featured on the popular news programs, join together for families of violent crime to find answers and seek justice. The Crime Wire team, Vito Colucci Jr., Private Eye and author, Denny Griffin, retired Investigator and Author, and Susan Murphy Milano, Violence Expert and Author are there-- On top of the crime -- at the top of their game.

Television producer Matthew Houbrick was found dead at the Drake Hotel in Chicago on November 14, 2005. He was in Chicago working on the FOX TV series Prison Break. His death made world-wide headlines, but the truth of what really happened; how he died, why Chicago Police failed to properly investigate, has been silenced. Joining us on the ahow to discuss the facts in the case, as he knows them, is Michael Houbrick, identical twin brother of the deceased.

 Lacey Gaines was found dead in her home on December 7, 2009. Lacey's brutal murder has yet to be solved and no one has been named as a suspect or person of interest. National advocate and family member, Cherry Simpson, will provide information and a time-line leading up to her neice's homicide.

Crime Wire Team Consultants, Peter Hyatt and Al Dressler will also join us and weigh in on the cases.

Date: June 8, 2010

Time: 9:00 PM EST 8:00 PM CST 6:00 PM PST

The number to call in with questions or comments is 1-646-478-0982

We profile a variety of cases each week, including cold cases, suspicious deaths, and current solved and unsolved murders.

If you are interested in having your case brought to the attention of the Crime Wire Team you can email us with cases, suggestions and comments at our email: thecrimewire@gmail.com

Link to Listen to the show Live http://www.blogtalkradio.com/crimewire

Our goal is to bring attention to those cases in which justice may not have been served and the families of the victims don’t have the resources to pursue the investigations on their own. Together we can make a difference.

The Mysterious Death of Patrick Rust

Army Sgt. Patrick Rust was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division headquartered at Fort Drum in Watertown, New York. In January 2007 he returned from deployment to Afghanistan. Following a 30 day leave he was back on post in February. The then 24-year-old Patrick was a local boy and was familiar with Watertown and the surrounding area. He didn’t have a driver’s license or vehicle.

On Wednesday, March 14, 2007, Patrick moved from the barracks on base to share an apartment with a fellow soldier at 156 Sterling Street, Apartment 4, in Watertown. At that time the two men had known each other for approximately 15 months. 

The following day Patrick rode back to the apartment in his roommate’s car after they were released from duty at around 5 pm. At approximately 5:30 the roommate heard Patrick engaged in a phone call with an old friend from Colorado who was visiting the area.

At around 6:30 the two left the apartment and drove to the Salmon Run Mall. While there Patrick purchased some games for his Gameboy PSP player in the Best Buy store. They then went to the food court and got something to eat at Wendy’s. After that Patrick withdrew cash from an ATM machine estimated by the roommate to be between $100 and $300.

At approximately 7:50 they left the mall and stopped at a tanning salon where the roommate wanted to get a tan. At that point Patrick said that he was going to walk back to the apartment, which was a relatively short distance away.

According to a timeline prepared by military investigators, another soldier saw Patrick walking and gave him a lift to the apartment at approximately 7:55. This individual told the investigators that he dropped Patrick off, but didn’t actually see him enter the apartment building. The roommate states that he arrived at the apartment around 8:30 and Patrick wasn’t there. He remained at the apartment and went to sleep between 10 and 11 pm.

The next reported sighting of Patrick takes place at around 9:30 when he was observed in a bar called Clueless located at 545 Arsenal Street. Clueless is known as a gay and lesbian bar; but straights are welcome as well. There is no indication that Patrick was gay; and according to all available information he had never been in the establishment before.

While at the bar Patrick met a classmate from his school days. This man was in the company of his roommate, another Fort Drum soldier. According to witness statements Patrick and his former classmate engaged in lengthy conversation about their school days. As time passed Patrick obtained his old acquaintance’s phone number so they could keep in contact and hook up again in the future. 

At approximately 1:00 am on March 16 the bartenders at Clueless reportedly refused to serve Patrick any more alcohol because he was intoxicated. One patron at the bar told investigators that Patrick had seemed “high” and had mentioned cocaine at one point. However, no cocaine was observed and there are no reports that Patrick was causing any trouble, only that he’d had too much to drink. When Patrick exited Clueless he left through the front door which was only used for deliveries. Regular patrons knew the back door off the parking lot was for entrance and egress. It is believed Patrick used that back door upon his arrival at the bar and during multiple smoke breaks during the evening. That is the last known time Patrick Rust was seen alive.
It was subsequently reported to military investigators that Patrick placed two calls from his cell phone to his former classmate’s phone at around 1:10 am. The first ended with Patrick leaving a voicemail that he had enjoyed their conversation and would catch up with him again sometime. The second was a hang up.

Patrick’s roommate told investigators that he awakened around that same time, checked Patrick’s room and found it empty. When asked why he woke up at 1 am, he said he always got up in the middle of the night to check his emails. He returned to bed, woke up again around 5 am and again found Patrick’s room empty.
At approximately 5:10 am the roommate sent a text message to his superior stating that Patrick hadn’t been home all night and would not be at the 7:30 formation. 

The sergeant whom the roommate texted later told investigators that he was surprised to receive such a message over two hours before the scheduled formation. He also said that Patrick had no history of being late for or missing formations.

Sometime between Friday, March 16 and Sunday the 18th, before Patrick’s family or the civilian police were told he was missing, the military cleared all of Patrick’s belongings from the apartment. The explanation provided by the military for clearing the apartment so quickly was that it was their procedure.

On Monday, March 19, Patrick’s mother Judy Rust, her ex-husband Rodney Rust, Patrick’s roommate and the sergeant went to the Watertown Police Department where Patrick was officially reported as missing. The Watertown police launched an investigation and the military continued their inquiry.

For the next six months neither the military nor the Watertown police made any progress in their investigations. And then on September 16, a farmer cutting hay in a field about five miles out of town found skeletal remains. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology responded to the scene to handle the recovery.

Some clothing was found along with Patrick’s identification and ATM cards. DNA testing confirmed that the remains were those of Patrick Rust. A subsequent autopsy by the military conducted in Washington, D.C. was unable to determine the cause or manner of death. Due to the condition of the remains toxicology tests could not be performed. 

At this time there is no active investigation into Patrick’s death by either civilian or military law enforcement.

The Rust family needs your help in finding out what happened to their son on March 16, 2007. If you have any information regarding this case please email me at denny@crimewiresite.com.

The Disappearance of William “Wild Bill” Cutolo

   This case involves one of those rather rare instances in which murder charges were brought and convictions attained when the victim’s remains had not been found. It is also somewhat unique in that the victim was a powerful organized crime figure. William “Wild Bill” Cutolo was the underboss of New York City’s Colombo crime family. His disappearance and presumed murder in 1999 caused his son to turn from a life of crime to become a cooperating government witness, whose work with law enforcement helped to bring about the arrests and convictions of his father’s killers in 2007.

   In the following paragraphs Billy Cutolo, Jr. talks about his father, the day he went missing, and the ensuing years. 

   Denny Griffin 

   "My name is William P. Cutolo Jr. I have also been known as Billy, Junior, and Bones. But the best one is Rat.  That latter name is one I despise.

   "My father was William P. Cutolo. By some he was called Wild Bill or Billy Fingers. And the latter name he despised.  He was the number two guy in the Colombo crime family out of Brooklyn, New York. For those who do not know the details of such a despicable life…Mafia, Mob, organized crime…the second slot meant he was the 'Underboss' of the family. He was second in command to Carmine 'The Snake' Persico, who occupied the number one slot.

   "My father was a man larger than the life. He was an extremely smart man and had the brains to be whatever in life he wanted to be. He dressed in custom made suits and hand painted ties. If you saw him on the street in the morning and did not know any better, the average person would have thought he was just some white collar guy on the way to his job in New York City. One of the reasons for his success was that he was a man of his word and the other four crime families in New York knew it. He was a guy who demanded respect and it came easy to him.

     "My father had survived numerous attempts on his life throughout his many years on the streets. And he lived through a gangland civil war between two factions of the Colombo family in which over a dozen men were killed and numerous others went to jail with lengthy prison terms. He almost seemed invincible.

   "But that all changed on May twenty-sixth, 1999. On the fateful day he was called to a high level meeting with the boss of the family and the number three guy in the chain of command, the consigliere. He never returned.

   "On that day, I and a close friend of my father's and me were doing our usual Wednesday routine of haircuts, manicures and then off to our social club in Brooklyn. When my father never arrived there I immediately started asking who may have seen him. I received nothing but, 'No Bill, we haven’t seen him.'

   "I tried to think of a legitimate reason for him to not be around. Maybe he was with someone and he couldn’t get back to me. Or, if he was at a high level meeting [where only high ranking members of organized crime were present] all beepers and cell phones had to be checked at the door so to speak. The reason being anything that could be considered a listening device had to be out of the room. Even so, whenever I paged him and added a 'nine eleven' after the phone number he knew it was an emergency and always got back to me within minutes. But not that day.

   "As the night grew on as I sat and played cards with friends, an unusual question was whispered in my ear.' Have you spoken to your Pop today?' That’s when it really hit me. That's when I knew he wasn’t coming back. I bided my time the rest of that night and showed little reaction. But the next morning I set things into action that allowed me to be alive today to tell the story.

   "I knew that my father had good rapport with the other families. I did my homework and by the morning after I knew who was responsible for my father's disappearance and murder, but I didn’t know exactly why they wanted him dead. My father and thirteen others had been charged with multiple crimes after the so-called Colombo war. They were locked up for thirteen months before being acquitted on all charges. All was said to have been forgiven within the family after he was released from jail. But I found out that wasn't true. And that’s what provided the motive and set the wheels in motion leading to my father's murder.

   "My dad called a spade a spade. If he thought a guy was a rat, including a boss, he didn’t bite his tongue about it, he said it like it was. Being outspoken doesn't set well with some people. And the powers that be were afraid of his power and his strong support. He was a true tough guy, and whatever he touched turned to gold. He was the true meaning of an 'earner' in the life. And that in itself can get you killed. Jealousy and envy have led to a lot of deaths in the world of organized crime.

   "As the next couple of days passed all his crew came to me one at a time to express their sympathy for my loss. Not too long after, just days in fact, a guy who was supposed to be father’s best friend came to my mother’s home in Staten Island and asked her where my father kept his financial ledgers and his stash of money. He even tapped on walls and floors thinking the money was hidden behind or under them. He came up empty. I have to say it was bitter sweet moment seeing the look on his face when I told him there was no ledger or money. It was priceless.

   "He didn't know it, but my mother had been told by my father years earlier that if anything ever happened to him she was to give them [his criminal associates] nothing. That’s exactly what we did… gave them nothing. It was a victory, but it didn't bring my father home or his killers to justice.

   "I love my family. But let's face it, when it came to my father's disappearance, what were they gonna do about it? They were scared. They didn’t know what to do. None of them did. They were all in shock. They weren’t in the streets every day like me. I wanted to save them. I wanted to be the one that brought my father home. Home to have a proper burial like he and our family deserved. But most of all for him. I mean dogs, cats and even birds all get buried by their loved ones. Granted they're pets, but I hope you get my point. I knew I was the only person in a position to do anything. My knowledge of the players and how the game is played gave me the means to catch the girls [a derogatory reference regarding the manhood of the killers] responsible for my father’s death. So I vowed I would not rest until he was found. 

   "Literally two days later I received a visit at my father’s home from two law enforcement officials. I wasn't under any obligation to report my father's disappearance to the FBI or the police, so I ignored them at first. They left business cards from both the FBI and the NYPD.

   "But after a while I reached out to a detective and an agent I knew. I'd been in the company of the detective before, even though we were on opposite sides. I'd also gotten to know the agent over the years and he was a straight shooter. They knew my father was missing and presumed he was dead. They offered their condolences and warned me about the possible repercussions if I took vengeance on my own. After that they asked me, 'Do you want to know what happened to your father? Would you like to aid in the investigation?'

   "Up until then my only friend was a silent one. It was a friend without a conscience. It held fifteen in a clip and one in the chamber. And I wanted the blood of the men who killed my father so bad. I wanted their families to feel the pain of losing a father, a grandfather and a husband like we had to endure. For me, killing those responsible would have been easy. Refraining from killing them would be much harder. But I forced myself to think. My father had warned me that if you kill one, two come at you. You put two down and four are coming, and so on. I knew he was right. And I had a wife and a son of my own to worry about. So I decided to break the cycle. To save spilling their blood and hit them another way.

   "And so I did. In the next few seconds my whole life changed. I became a member of the guys in the white hats and was no longer an outlaw in black. Now my anger was channeled and fueled with fire. I hit them and hit them hard. For almost two years I secretly aided in the investigation. I caused havoc amongst the hierarchy of the Colombo family. The men I knew were responsible for my father sent for me on numerous occasions and I ignored them. When they sent two morons to threaten me if I didn’t go where they wanted to take me I introduced them to my silent friend and his sixteen buddies. They quickly left saying only, 'Okay, Billy. We brought you the message.' I told them not to come back unless they thought they could carry me out. That if they were really my friends they wouldn't have come with the message they did.

   "At that point I had no time in my schedule for mutts like them. I considered myself a man's man as I'd been taught by my father. At one time nobody had more respect for the life than I did. But that went away with my father. Now my only loyalty was to him and the promise I'd made to him."

   “Each time I went out to get information for the investigation it was a rush and the cockier I got. I was daring them to do something to me. But it never came. Call it what you will, but I say my father was looking down on me and kept me safe. He had fed me the paranoia that still lives in me today. He always told me, 'Paranoia is good. It keeps you sharp.' It worked for me. My mind remained keen and I stayed alive.

   "Right to this day some people are still mad at me for not going out with guns blazing. That doesn't bother me though. I'd do it all over again if I had to. My only regret is that I couldn't tell my family what I was doing. I wanted to, but I was warned that it wouldn't be a good idea. So I had to keep them in the dark.

   "I delivered for the law too. Even without finding his body, after eight years the government charged and convicted two men for my father's murder. So my cooperation and a few years in Witness Protection paid off. 

   "And then in early October of two thousand eight…nine years after he went missing…I was out eating at Emeril’s restaurant when the news came across the AP wire. It was not yet confirmed, but the authorities were pretty sure they had found the location of my father's remains. I rushed out to get to a computer to monitor the news sites. I had mixed emotions. Was it really going to be over after all those years?

   "It was. An examination confirmed that the remains were his. Many times I had given up on God and law enforcement bringing that closure. Because one of the men convicted for the murder was an avid sailor I figured they might have dumped his body at sea. So my confidence in anybody ever finding him was slim to none.

   "My father's burial site was on Long Island in a small town called Farmingdale. The morons that killed him were too lazy to get rid of the body. They buried him fifteen minutes from the private home of the family's new street boss. He was wrapped neatly in a tarp with a single gunshot wound to the back of his head. The scars on his right arm and dental records confirmed that the corpse was indeed my father. My family was relieved at that moment and they were able to move on. But I was not. I still am not the same person I was before my father's murder and I never will be.

   "The difference between me and other people involved in my father’s life is that I finished what I started.  I had the means to an end. I never had to actually take the stand against his killers. However, I did get to sit in the court room about fifteen feet from two of them. I sneered at them and they wouldn’t look at me. There wasn’t even a jury present and they were afraid to look at me. I remember saying to them before the judge came in and only the lawyers were present, 'What’s the matter, you ain't got nothin’ to say? You two bastards don’t even have the balls to look me in the eye?'

   "When court was over the judge thanked me for all my work and dedication. And most importantly for not falling through the cracks of society. On my way out of the courtroom I made sure I waved to them.

   "Today I am active in the wars against organized crime and domestic violence. And I try to help solve cold cases whenever I can. I think that's important because if we all walked around with our heads in the sand nobody's disappearance would ever get solved. I love being an activist in this crazy world. I love to know that I can and do make a difference. I instill that idea in my children and I am greatly rewarded for that each day when I open my eyes and put both feet on the floor. I know that's what my father would have wanted. I still miss him so. And I speak with him daily in my thoughts and prayers. 

   "Looking back on it I know I could have hurt a lot of other guys, but I didn’t. Many of my father's crew and associates loved him and I knew who they were. Anybody that got caught in the crosshairs of my cooperation with the law has only himself to blame. If they want to know why they're in jail they only have to look in the mirror. I was taught at a young age that any moron can hurt someone. But it takes a man to extend his hand and help that person back up. And that’s the way I see myself today.

   "Closure is a very fickle word. It has different meanings to other families and individuals. It doesn’t bring a loved one back. But it puts your heart and mind at ease knowing that the person you cared so much for has been laid to rest. Knowing my father's murderers will die in prison helps too. It doesn't take away the hurt though. I wish I could say it did for me, but that would be a lie. The pain will always be there.

   "I do have to say after all the years we went without knowing for sure where he was, I now take nothing for granted. I stop and smell the roses and appreciate human life for all that it is. I am happy with the choices I made then. I was not in any legal trouble and I wasn't facing jail time. I did what I did because I was tired of the life and it was the right thing to do. I want to be remembered for that.

   "Today I'm the boss of a family. It's a family that consists of my wife and children. And they don't call me capo or the don. In my family they call me Dad."